Overview
FAR 15.102 establishes the guidelines for using oral presentations to substitute for or augment written proposal information to streamline the source selection process. It emphasizes that while oral presentations facilitate dialogue, they are subject to the same timing and content restrictions as written submissions.
Key Rules
- Interactive Requirement: Oral presentations must provide an opportunity for dialogue; pre-recorded videos that lack real-time interaction do not qualify as oral presentations under this section.
- Mandatory Written Submissions: Even when oral presentations are used, representations, certifications, and signed offer sheets (including any exceptions to terms and conditions) must be submitted in writing.
- Solicitation Requirements: The solicitation must specify the types of information to be presented, evaluation factors, personnel qualifications, time limits, and whether the session will include formal "discussions" (per FAR 15.306).
- Documentation: The Contracting Officer must maintain a record of the presentation (e.g., audio/video recordings or notes) to document the information the Government relied upon for its decision.
- Contractualization: Any material terms or conditions presented orally must be reduced to writing to be included in the contract; incorporation of oral statements by reference is prohibited.
- Regulatory Compliance: If the presentation involves "discussions" as defined by FAR 15.306(d), the Government must comply with the formal requirements for the conduct and closure of discussions.
Practical Implications
- Oral presentations allow the Government to assess the actual expertise of key personnel and "live" problem-solving capabilities rather than just the quality of a firm's technical writers.
- Offerors must ensure that any critical commitments made during a presentation are captured in the final written contract to ensure they are legally binding and enforceable.